Illinois punishes independents, meaning just 1 got on 2024 ballot
Illinois punishes independents, meaning just 1 got on 2024 ballot
Illinois puts lots of restrictions on independent candidates. Just one got on the 2024 ballot in 155 races.
Madigan’s corruption doesn’t deserve an oil portrait
Madigan’s corruption doesn’t deserve an oil portrait
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption conviction means capturing his likeness in a portrait would be tax dollars poorly spent, one lawmaker says.
Pritzker vetoes 5th lowest of 16 Democrat-controlled states
Pritzker vetoes 5th lowest of 16 Democrat-controlled states
In Illinois, 99% of state bills passed by the Democratic supermajority become law with no objection by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Democracy suffers without checks and balances.
Illinois lifts nuclear ban, but tightens grip on energy supply
Illinois lifts nuclear ban, but tightens grip on energy supply
Lawmakers pass a bill to end the ban on large nuclear plants but include plans on expanding state control over energy.
Illinois’ trick-or-treating rules: What to know
Illinois’ trick-or-treating rules: What to know
Halloween is when the masks go on and candy fills the bag. Cities and towns regulating Halloween with trick-or-treating rules do so for safety, so you should check your local Halloween laws.
Harvey declaring financial distress under $164M debt
Harvey declaring financial distress under $164M debt
Harvey is seeking state aid under Illinois’ Financially Distressed City Law, but without pension reform, state oversight offers little hope to fix its $164M crisis.
Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis
Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis
Chicago Transit Authority ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels. Crime and a budget shortfall make matters worse, but there are cost-effective ways to make it safer.
Illinois checks, balances? Not under Pritzker
Illinois checks, balances? Not under Pritzker
As veto session begins and power goes back to the Democratic majority state legislature, the consequences of a single-party state are more evident than ever.
Michael Madigan begins prison term
Michael Madigan begins prison term
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s 7.5-year federal prison sentence started Oct. 13 for his role in a bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison, Illinois’ largest utility.
Illinois’ Congressional Democrats reject gerrymandering – for wrong reasons
Illinois’ Congressional Democrats reject gerrymandering – for wrong reasons
Illinois Democrats rejected a mid-cycle redistricting plan cooked up by U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to maximize Democratic partisan advantage in the state’s congressional district map. The reason? They don’t want to endanger their safe seats.
Congressional Democratic leader wants Illinois to super-gerrymander maps
Congressional Democratic leader wants Illinois to super-gerrymander maps
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wants Illinois state lawmakers to redraw congressional district maps to offset Republican gains from mid-decade remapping in Texas. Illinois lawmakers aren’t eager to do it.
Illinois lawmakers churn through 31K pages of bills on last day of session
Illinois lawmakers churn through 31K pages of bills on last day of session
Illinois General Assembly members filed 31,011 pages of amendments to bills in the last 24 hours of the 2025 regular session. Truly understanding what they were deciding would require reading 22 pages per minute.
Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile
Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extensive out-of-state travel raises questions about whether he’s prioritizing national exposure over challenges facing Illinois. During a 12-month stretch, he averaged one out-of-state trip per month.
Illinois ranks last in U.S. for financial transparency
Illinois ranks last in U.S. for financial transparency
Illinois was just ranked last in the nation for financial transparency. The state’s chronic delays, audit failures and last-minute budgeting have put taxpayers in the dark and long-term stability at risk.